The Ambush on the Kingsroad

The Conflict

Prelude

Two days earlier, on the eighteenth of April, ser Sola Somercrag's party had split, with the majority of Lady Sola's Vanguard riding East to Tayach Dam in pursuit of ser Edgarth Hayford's captors, while a much smaller party rode with all haste to Bayglen.

Deployment

The ambushing forces set themselves amongst the dense trees and undergrowth above the road on its Western side, and below the road where it sloped down into nearby farmland to the Eastern side. They positioned the caravaneer in the middle of the road at a bend by his broken down cart, its contents spilled across the road both to create a blockade and to lure the famously charitable ser Sola into offering aid.

Ser Sola Somercrag forces approached from the South, following The Kingsroad toward Bayglen. Ser Edam Bracks, at this point still believed to be loyal to Duke Brennar Hayford, rode with ser Sola's party.

Battlefield

The battle took place on a stretch of The Kingsroad passing through the lands of The Shale toward Bayglen. Like much of The Kingdom of Somercrag the area is made up of Bocage. This particular stretch of the Kingsroad, passing through the foothills of the Northern Hespeak Mountains, has thick undergrowth and dense woodland above it to the Western Side, while the Eastern side of the road is lined by a simple wooden fence before sloping steeply down toward farmland. The ambush was set in an area with a sharp curve to the North-West, further limiting visibility while exposing ser Sola Somercrag's party.

The Engagement

The 'battle' was over almost instantly. Barrels of Powder on the wrecked caravan were ignited, killing many members of ser Sola Somercrag's party instantly and disorienting others enough to make them easy prey to the ambushing soldiers. At ser Kyra Crowler's instruction ser Edam Bracks personally slew both Duke Brennar Hayford and ser Sola Somercrag as they lay dying, using Duke Brennar's own sword to kill ser Sola.

Outcome

On the twenty-second of April 441KS, ser Edam Bracks presented himself to Queen Malina Somercrag as the sole survivor of the attack, claiming that his liege Duke Brennar Hayford had turned on ser Sola Somercrag on the road, killing her, and that he had had to break his oaths to Duke Brennar and kill him to avenge ser Sola.
Queen Malina responded by issuing a Royal Declaration to Lady Sola's Vanguard. However, ser Tyon Cray did not believe the story put forth and rode to Bayglen to present the truth to the Queen. This did nothing but anger the Queen against ser Tyon.
Ser Kyra Crowler was returned to Allerton. Ser Edgarth Hayford entered the Queen's service. The queen's second son, ser Mitchar, was raised to found House Hespeak of Haycastle and take control of The Hayford Duchy. Ser Tyon began to plot against the Queen.

Aftermath

A grand Tourney was held in Fairstrand to mark the settlement of House Foxworth there. Lords and Ladies from across The Kingdom of Somercrag rode to the tourney, including both the royal princes. On the last day of The Tourney at Fairstrand 441KS, on the twentieth of July 441KS, three months after the death of ser Sola Somercrag, ser Tyon Cray and his fellow conspirators launched an attack, capturing both the princes. This would become the opening movement of The Revolution of 441KS, which ended on the sixteenth of November that same year with The Battle of Bayglen and the death of Queen Malina Somercrag.

Historical Significance

Legacy

The ultimate legacy of the Ambush on the Kingsroad is that it set in motion The Revolution of 441KS and brought about the end of the four-hundred-and-forty year reign of House Somercrag of Bayglen.

Technological Advancement

The Powder used to explode the cart at the opening of this battle was a technology not seen in The Continent of Greland before that time. It was used once more during The Battle of Bayglen, but the secret of its creation is still unknown to any but a select few.

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

20th of April 441KS

Conflict Result

Total Annihilation of ser Sola Somercrag's Party

Location

The Kingsroad

Belligerents

Ser Sola Somercrag's Party

Led by

• ser Sola Somercrag

Ambushers

• House Crowler of Allerton

Led by

• ser Kyra Crowler

Strength

• Ser Sola Somercrag.
• Alvar Skanler, ser Sola's squire.
• Ser Boggs Leonhart, bearer of The Royal Standard of House Somercrag.
• Milah, ser Boggs' squire.
• Ser Alysia Tallman, ser Sola's Sworn Sword.
• Ser Arthur Buckhaill.
• Lisbeth, ser Arthur's squire.
• ser Brennar Hayford, Duke of the lands East of the Hespeaks.

• Ser Edam Bracks
• ser Kyra Crowler
• An unknown number of men-at-arms in the service of House Crowler of Allerton.
• An elderly caravaneer and his granddaughter.

Casualties

All involved.

None, save the caravaneer and his granddaughter.

Objectives

Reach Bayglen.

Kill ser Sola Somercrag and Duke Brennar Hayford; frame Duke Hayford for the attack.

Maps

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  The Kingdom of Somercrag